I am looking for a wireless trigger that will simply allow me to shoot in manual, and change the power levels manually from the camera. I am having little luck looking anything up b/c there seems to be tons and tons of these little gizmo's out there in the tech world.
So far I think I THINK these would do the trick: (Strato II Wireless 5 in 1 Trigger Set for Canon by PHOTTIX), but I was wondering if anyone has experience with them, or any other wireless trigger for that matter.
I appreciate the help, I have been mulling this over and researching for a while, but the info appears to be all over the place on these.
have you looked into the pocket wizard mini and flex system? The system also has an add on that will allow you to manually change the flash powers for up to three units individually from the camera. I just ordered a set so unfortunately I can not give you first hand experience with them yet. They can be used in either manual or auto. The catch is that they are for speed lights. Not sure what you are using for lights. Mine arrive this week. The pocket wizard web site has a great video showing them in use.
yea i will primarily use them for my canon speedlites, but I wanted to see if there were any bargains out there outside of the PW and RP options since they seem to be pretty pricey.
I guess you get what you pay for though. Ideally I'd like the triggers to be able to do HSS, and for me to be able to change the settings from the camera on the fly b/c Id have the flashes inside of a softbox and it would be cumbersome to have to go in and change the settings alot.
one of many options is the radio popper Jrx studio.
but the knobs are not indexed, that is to say there is no 'click' from one setting to another, and there are not markings either. the transmitter will control 3 groups.
I've used them for alien bees and 580ex2.
I've just started playing with the pixel king units. not digging them so far.
vawill84 wrote:
I am looking for a wireless trigger that will simply allow me to shoot in manual, and change the power levels manually from the camera. ...I THINK these would do the trick: (Strato II Wireless 5 in 1 Trigger Set for Canon by PHOTTIX)...
Unless I am mistaken, the Phottix Strato II will NOT allow you to change the flash power from the camera. As far as I know, it is a sync-only (or shutter release) transmitter/receiver system. You can turn groups on or off, but that is all. (On the plus side, there are four groups available, rather than only the usual three.)
The Phottix Odin, on the other hand, will allow power changes, and is capable of High Speed Sync and Rear Curtain Sync. (It's back to three groups, though.)
Pocket Wizard is the industry standard. The iTTL Control System is outstanding. I use it all the time. It got some bad press to begin with for two reasons:1) user didn't understand how to use them and 2) RF interference from certian speedlites.
I recommend getting the AC3 Zone Controller along with a Mini for the camera ( unless you expect to be over 20' from your speedlites, then get a flex for the camera). You will need a flex for each Speedlite.
The AC3 gives you three mode options: 1) off, 2) auto or eTTL mode and 3) manual mode for each of the three channels a,b & c.
It allows you to adjust power for each channel + or - 3 stops in 1/3rd stop increments in both manual and auto modes.
Pixel's King controller/trigger would suit your need well, if you have a camera with "Flash Control" menus (40D and later) and Mark II Speedlites (or some compatibles).
Can't comment on canon versions but the nikon version of the PW flex system is excellent. You can change the power manually from full to 1/64 on three different channels by 1/3 increments by just turning wheels on the AC3. Avoid the mini if you get this system, it uses an expensive non-rechargable battery that doesn't last too long.
Radio poppers do this really well. I have the Jrx ones but they are like a analog adjustment. The poppers allow you to adjust the output from the back of your master flash in 1/3 stop increments, basically just like using the normal master/slave ettl settings already built in the camera/flash system.
teebat wrote:
Radio poppers do this really well. ...The poppers allow you to adjust the output from the back of your master flash in 1/3 stop increments, basically just like using the normal master/slave ettl settings already built in the camera/flash system.
And if you have the Popper on a 580EX II with a newer body, you can control everything from the camera's menus.
Thanks guys, i think ill end up getting the radiopoppers
I guess a part of me was hoping out of the 300 other triggers out there, there was some other reliable options but rp just seems to be the most reliable
Basically to get the manual control over the flashes, you need the more expensive triggers that communicate 2 ways with the flashes. These will also do TTL and high speed sync as well since it is the same communication method. The cheaper triggers don't send 2 way communication - they only send a "fire" command that sets the flash off.
There are some less expensive options that can control the power of a studio strobe, but for flashes your choices are either cheap dumb triggers, or expensive two way triggers.
This is great. I am looking for similar solution as I am experimenting with flash off camera and umbrellas for canon 580EX II. what did you end up buying Vawill84? you mentioned radio poppers care to share a link of what is needed to accomplish this. thanks
skasol wrote:
...Vawill84? you mentioned radio poppers care to share a link of what is needed to accomplish this.
I'm not Vawill84, but since he's three time zones ahead of us, and probably in bed by now, I'll take the liberty of answering part of the question for him.
The original Radio Poppers (the PX system) work by mounting a transmitter on top of the Master flash's head in such a way that it picks up the electromagnetic field generated when the flash fires its command and control preflashes, and it then translates those signals to radio signals, which are picked up by PX receivers and converted back into light that is guided to the Slave flash's sensor.
Since the PX transmitter is simply translating and rebroadcasting the Master flash unit's instructions, anything the Master is capable of (High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain Sync, etc.), the PX is capable of.
Radio Popper now has another system, the JrX system, that has a radio transmitter that mounts directly to the camera. It's similar to the original Pocket Wizards in that respect, but with the ability to manually adjust the power of the slave flashes via the appropriate receiver (and in the case of Speedlites, an RPCube accessory).
pixelking doesn't work properly with canon 5d mk ii and 580ex. I would not recommend. I've heard of too many issues with PW and Radio Poppers. Odin works great. I love it and it also is backwards compatible with the strato line though you don't get ettl with the strato line but I use the strato as slave triggers in the studio.
jzucker wrote:
...Odin works great. I love it and it also is backwards compatible with the strato line though you don't get ettl with the strato line...
After weighing all the options, and doing a price/benefit/disadvantage comparison, I just put in an order for a Phottix Odin transmitter/2 receiver set and and extra receiver; $569.94 all together.
A PW MiniTT1 plus AC3 zone controler, plus three FlexTT5 transceivers would have been $968, and I would probably have need to add at least one RF shield to that.
but rp just seems to be the most reliable